Given what you are trying to do which is listen to CDs and digital files, I personaly like the idea of a separate DAC.

IMO, the best value is the Peachtree DAC iTx for $299. It has a Toslink, Digital Coax and USB input. You would run a USB cable from your PC to the DAC to play digital files. When you are ripping those files, you wan to choose and audio format that is lossless meaning no data is lost or trimmed off in compression. FLAC & ALAC are both lossless formats. I have found most new equipment supports both formats. Choose whichever is easier.

For a CD player, I would get an NAD C 516BEE and use it as a CD transport and use the DAC in the peachtree. This is accomplished by connecting it via Toslink or Digital Coax cable. It is also $299.

This would give you max flexibility and I doubt you can beat that sound with any one unit for $600.

Excellent question.

You are right, the CXC is a dedicated transport while the NAD is not. The NAD is a good quality disc player though and is a fine unit to use as a transport. While the CXC would be better that would push you over your budget and I suggested it because of your budget. Full disclosure, I am planning on getting a CXC when I finally upgrade my DAC to use as a transport.

I like Peachtree and two dealers in my area who sell Maggies swear by it as the gold standard in that price range. They sell it with Maggie systems regularly. In fairness, neither sell Cambridge or Musical Fidelity. The Cambridge DAC Magic 100 and the Musical Fidelity V90 are both awesome DACs for the money as well. They are all $299 and and all are highly regarded.

All three are pretty neutral and offer superb detail and resolution. All use great chips and all have great implemenatations. Regarding sound output, they are really similar. The Peachtree might be a hair warm. The Musical Fidelity might be a hair forward but it is going to be nominal. You would be extremely happy with any one of them.

What kind of power amp / integrated amp are you going to be using to drive your speakers? That could also factor into your sound. Additionally, Maggies can't be driven by just anything. They operate at a 4ohm impedance which some amps can struggle with.

You are very good with a Rogue unit driving the Maggies and I am not all surprised you liked that match. I have a Rogue Hydra power amp in my system and love it.

I remember reading that in your above poast and the phono stage includes is pretty good. You would have to spend a fair amount to beat it.

You should be in good shape with a standalone DAC. The nice part is they are highly flexible. Given the fact they have optical, digital coax and USB, you can connect a PC, a streamer, apple TV, Sonos, CD player or any other digital item you would like. To me this is a way to maximize compatibiltiy through time.

The NAD has an internal DAC whch is actually pretty good (though not in the same league as the three I mentioned) and it has both digital coax and optical outputs giving you flexibility if you want to add another digital device to your system like a Bluetooth streamer or Apple TV. You could connect the CD via digital coax and the Applet TV or Bluetooth unit via optical. PC can still connect via USB.

Now, the CXC would be a better transport but you can't operate it without an external DAC. Again, thinking about flexibility in the long term, the NAD is a great option.

Save your money and just get the NAD 516BEE. It is a very quiet and sturdy transport. I bought it on Audiogon NEW for $225 clearance.

Cheers,

Ron

I chose NAD for their quality and cost. They also indicated they improved the disk carrier mechanism from the already very good 515 model before it. It loads and plays CD's quiet as a stone. Finally, I was able to get a brand new unit on Audiogon through a retailer for $225 which sealed the deal.

Conversely, I have found sometimes there are no short cuts, as in the case of DACS...arriving at the Bryston was a long road of trial and error with lesser units. You simply get what you pay for. I did get the $2400 Bryston BDA-1 used for $750, however.

I use the NAD strictly as transport and feed it to the Bryston BDA-1 Dac.

To be absolutely hair-splitting, though the Bryston is superb and fully balanced, it is a hair clinical and cold; but the maggies will warm it up perfectly. That is called system synergy. On the other hand, if you had a brighter speaker such as Bowers & Wilkins, I would be slightly cautious though still recommend the Bryston...after a certain price, all DACS are very good.
Cheers,

Ron